Daria Kalinina’s Teen Art Awards inspire and support young artists

Muhammad Yusuf, Features Writer

The Art.Coordinate Foundation recently hosted the International Teen Art Awards ceremony, celebrating creativity and talent, at the prestigious SEE Institute in Dubai Sustainable City. The event showcased the achievements of young artists; it was a resounding success, thanks to the people who joined hands in making it a triumph. The organisers were effusive when it came to describing the occasion. “Imagine a gathering where creativity soared higher than the tallest skyscraper and passion burned brighter than the desert sun,” they said. “That’s exactly what the event embodied — a haven where artistic souls from across the globe converged to celebrate their craft and nurture their dreams.”

The event commenced with an address from Founder Daria Kalinina, who shared her vision for the awards. “The main goal of the project,” she said, “is support. Teenagers may have talent and a desire to reveal it and share what they feel with others. But they may lack the necessary resources to do so. Teen Art Awards wants to become a megaphone for young people and give them professional tools to promote their creativity and ease their entry into the art community.” With a mission to uplift teenage talent, the event turned out not being just a ceremony — it was perhaps the beginning of a movement, a testament to the power of art to inspire and elevate. It championed young artists’ cause, recognising their talent, courage and dedication to their craft.

The gathering was not content with merely applauding talent from the sidelines; it was committed to providing a nurturing environment where creativity could flourish. For instance, the Sharjah Trip organised by the Teen Art Awards organisers, supported by Sharjah Art Foundation and Sharjah Architecture Triennial — was a journey that was not only about visiting exhibitions, but about immersing oneself in a world of artistic enchantment, where each stroke of the brush and every pixel projected on the canvas, told a story.

  Daria Kalinina is based in Dubai.

Detailing the decision to hold the Teen Art Awards in Dubai, Kalinina said that “the experience of holding the award in Dubai exceeded all our expectations. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai, has said that soon Dubai will become the new creative capital of the world. It is truly so, as the best specialists from all over the world come to Dubai to fulfill their dreams - and we have been no exception.” The awards ceremony itself, as was obvious, was the culmination of months of hard work and dedication. Just beyond the glitz and glamour, workshops and masterclasses led by seasoned art mentors, became classrooms without walls, where young minds absorbed knowledge and emerged with newfound knowledge.

More than 100 works from 38 countries, including pieces by laureates and prize-winners, were presented to the audience in a colourful digital show prepared for the award by a group of media artists led by Konstantin Dovzhik and Anna-Valeria, as well as producer Evgeny Potapenko. Yaroslav Markov, art director of Art.Coordinate Foundation, was responsible for the visual direction of the project. “The future we are facing today, including in art, is in many ways embedded in teenagers who have something to say to us. Despite their young age, they already know what they want, and we want to give them that voice to be heard,” they said.

Support from partners such as Diplomatic Solutions and SVX Logistics and a partnership with Sanad Village, was appreciated. The event also featured special performances by Todes and Jiire Smith, adding to the celebratory atmosphere. The event’s media partners, including The Junior Trumpet magazine and headline media partner Magzoid Magazine, helped amplify the occasion’s reach and impact. A highlight of the evening was the presentation of awards in Painting, Drawing, Digital Art, Video Art and Art Storytelling categories, with winners expressing gratitude for the platform provided by the Teen Art Awards. The winners in painting were Ruslana Slivina (17 years) and LAU-V-SHANE (17 years);  Drawing winners Margarita Astaturyan (14 years) and Cathrine Nagel (17 years); Digital Art winners Maria Zykovа (17 years) and Anna Vladimirova (15 years); Video Art Nomination Prize winners Mitrah Shahani (17 years), Maxim Znamenshchikov (15 years), Margarita Malova (16 years) and Polina Mansurova (17 years); Performance Nomination Prize winners Theater and Theatrical Technologies Studio of the School of Creative Industries (all participants were aged 16 years) and Varvara Zakharova (17 years); Art Storytelling Nomination Prize winners Bukho Nomatye (15 years), Artem Volkov (15 years), Fairy Prokhorova (16 years), Anastasia Ivanenko (17 years), Marina Artyomenko (17 years) and Polina Ostrovskaya (17 years).

The prizes, which were in the shape of branded figurines, were bestowed on the winners during the evening’s function. In addition, winners also received gift editions of books on art. The jury panel for the competition comprised individuals from diverse artistic backgrounds. Recycle Group, winners of the 2017 Kandinsky Prize, offered encouragement to aspiring artists, emphasising the importance of self-improvement and exploration. Elizaveta Shirinyan, Azza Al Qubaisi, Maisoon Al Saleh, and Ghada Kunash joined them, each bringing their unique expertise and insights. Together, they ensured a fair and square evaluation of the competition’s entries. BMW showcased support by presenting an artistically designed car, providing a focus into the intersection of art and automotive innovation. Guests included Khalil Abdulwahid Al Rahman, Anna Grigorieva and Max Goshko-Dankov. Teen Art Awards also revealed that the next season will take place in Saudi Arabia.